Perfume atomizer



2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 3

gmac/Wm E. P. SMITH PERFUME ATOMIZER Sept. 5, 1950 Filed Aug. l2, 1946 Il III |I| Illll ll Illllllll` "s IllIIIIIlIllllllllllllllllllllllWH @www Sept. 5, 1950 E. P. sMlTH PERFUME ATOMIZER v2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. l2, 1946 w www FIG.

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Patented Sept. 5, y1950 f y2,521,611 4PERFUME A'roMIzER Ernest P. Smith, New York, N. Y., assignor to Premier Crystal Laboratories, Incorporated,

New York, N. Y.

Application Angustia, 1946, serial No. 639,911

This invention relates to perfume dispensers, and more particularly to animproved perfume dispenser of the atomizer type adapted to be carried in a handbag, vanity case or pocket.

'A rnain object of the invention is to provide a. novel land improved perfume atomizer which is very 'simple in construction, easy to use, compact in 'size, and 'which maybe readily carried in a pocket, handbag, vanity case, and the like, without leakage orevaporation o 'f the perfume from the latomizer;l f t l further object ofthe invention is to'provide an improved perfume "atomizer comprisingA ya small number of simple parts which `are inexpensive to manufacture and easy to assemble.

Further objects and advantages of the inven'- tion will become' apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein: vl'igure 1 is an elevationalview ofa perfume atomizer constructed in accordancey with the.

present invention,

closed position.' i

Figure 2 is a vertical oross-sectional'view taken y Figure 3 is anelevational vieu/,partly in crosssection,'of thefato'mizer of Figure 1', shown vin extended, orreleased, position.

yliirnire 4 isan enlarged detail View in horizontal 'cross-sectiony taken on line 4 -4- of Figure 2.

the atomizer being vS'liOwnfin c claims. (01.299-88) ff-Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Figure' 6 is a detail vcross-sectional view taken on line of Figure'5.

Figure 7 is an elevational'detail View of the perfume reservoir member employed iny the "atomizer of Figure 1.,

y Figure S is an elevational detail View of a diffuser element employed Within the perfume reservoir. 'f

`Figure 9 is an -elevationaldetail view of a plunger member employed in the atomizer of vFigure 1. l

Secured to plunger member i3 by a Screw member I4 and a bearing washer i5 is a deformable sealing washer It of rubber, leather, or other suitable yielding material, which is in slidable but sealing engagement with the inside Wall surface of barrel member I I. A coil spring I1 bears between washer I 5 and an annular seat I8 formed therefoiin'bottom cap member I2 to bias plunger member 53 upwardly with respect to the bottom cap member. Screw'member Id is formed with anaxial bore I9 for a purpose presently to be described.

Plunger member I3 is reduced in outer diameter with respect to its lower end portion t'o dene an annular shoulder 2l). Shoulder 2G cooperates with an annular rib 2| formed inside barrel I I adjacent its top end to limit extension of plunger member i3' upwardly with respect tobarrel I`I resulting from the free expansion of spring I'l, as shown in Figure 3. f

yPlunger member I3 is formed with an internal cavity having v a conical` bottom surface 22. Secured within this cavity by press-fitting o'r other suitable rigid securing means is a reservoir member 23 having an externally threaded upper end portion '24. The bottom surface 25 of the reservoir member is fiat except for a substantial Ioevel` The side surface of said reservoir is cylindrical and reduced in diameter with respect to the adjacent inner surface 'of plunger member lSto dene'an air passage'l. Itv will be noted that the `bevelr 2t is so oriented with respect vto conical surface 22 as to'provide an annular re'- strictedv passagesiinilar in effect t'o a Venturi orifice betwen the Vcenter portion of surface 22 and the peripheral portion thereof.

Secured in the upper portion of the wall of plunger member I3 is a nozzle element 28, shown in elevational view in Figure 2 and inf'crosssectional view in Figures 4'and` 5. Aligned with the orice in nozzle element' 28is an4 orifice 29 formed in the wallof reservoir member`23l A recess 30 formed in the upper shoulderedportion of reservoir member 23 provides A'communieation -between air space 'Zl'and the space intervening between orifice 29 and nozzle element 28.

Positioned inside reservoir 23"`and in engage;- rnent with itsinner wall surfaceis a diffuser sleeve 3|. Said. diffuser sleeve is formed with a' diamond-knurled exterior surface 32 to retard the passage of perfume liquid from the reservoir upwardly along the inne-r lwall surface of thel reservoir 4to orifice 29.' The bottom of the reservoir is conical, as shown at 33, and a pair of semicircular notches 34 -arejformedin theibottom edge -Wardly on top cap 35. lower portion of barrel passes through bore-I9 of the plunger screw I4 of sleeve 3| to allow the fluid to flow freely under said bottom edge. The lower end portion of the outer surface of sleeve 3| is slightly reduced in diameter, as shown at in Figure 8 to further promote flow of the perfume fluid to the diffusing surface of the sleeve. Said diffusing surface is normally covered with a film of perfume liquid, and the atomizing action consists in drawing perfume liquid from this film out through nozzle 28 in the form of a fine spray or mist. When the atomizer is not in use, the flow-retarding action of the roughened outer surface of the sleeve 3| prevents leakage of the fluid from the atomizer.

Threadedly engaged with threaded portion 24 of reservoir member 23 is a top closure cap 36. A sealing gasket 3'| is interposed between closure cap 36 and the rim of reservoir 23.

The top rim portion of barrel member II is formed with a flange having an annular in- Wardly directed rib 38. Rib 38 defines with annular rib 2| an annular groove 38. Nozzle member 28 is provided with an outer head portionl or fiange 40, shown most clearly in Figure 5, which is received in groove 33 to lock plunger ymember I3 in retracted position in barrel when the atomizer is not in use. A rectangular notch 4| is formed in rib 38 to permit head portion Alito be disengaged from groove 39 when the atomizer is to be used to spray perfume.

' When the atomizer is not in use the parts are in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, with lplunger'member I3 retracted in barrel II against the pressure of spring I'l and locked by the engagement of nozzle head in groove 33. To use the atomizer, cap 36 is grasped and is rotated with respect to the barrel II until nozzle head 4I! registers with rectangular notch 4I, permitting the plunger member I3 to be extended by the expansion of spring Il. The operator then places his thumb over the bottom opening of bore 4 3 in the bottom cap I2 and presses down- The air trapped in the II is compressed and into. the central space below the fiat bottom surface 25 of Athe reservoir. The compressed air then passes radially through the annular Venturi-like restriction defined between the lower circular edge of the reservoir bottom surface 25 Iand the `conical surface 22 with a subsequent throttling action and is greatly accelerated. The air leaving the Venturi portion passes through :the air space 2`|v and out through nozzle 28. :Qinpe 'the rapidly moving air in the space be tween nozzle 28 and orifice 29 provides a low pressure or suction effect, liquid is drawn from the diamond-knurled surface of sleeve 3| through the orifice 29 and is combined with the low pressure air stream to produce a fine spray or mist emerging from nozzle 23, consisting Aof a mixture of air and particles of perfume fluid.

Thefuse of the annularVenturi structure defined by`- bevel -26 and conical surface 22 effects such a substantial building up of air velocity at nozzle 28 that the diamond linurled sleeve 3| may be relatively close-,fitting with respect to lthe inside surface ofthe reservoir 3| without .causing a breakin the continuity of the liquid -lm on the diamond knu'rledvsurface during the atomizing action. By the use of a close-fitting sleeve in the reservoir, leakage of the liquid from the `,atomizer when it is not in use is substantially eliminated. The atomizer may thus be carried many :position in a pocket or handbag without A danger of leaking, and the contents of the reservoir will not evaporate therefrom even when the atomizer is not used for long periods of time.

On the release stroke, the operator uncovers the bottom opening of bore 43 and allow spring I`| to expand, causing plunger I3 to move to its extended position. During this process air enters reservoir 23 through' orifice 29 and flows into the upper portion of the reservoir past the upper portion of knurled sleeve 3| to restore the pressure in the upper portion of the reservoir to atmospheric.

While a specific embodiment of a perfume atomizer has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention other than as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An atomizer comprising a barrel member, a hollow plunger slidably contained within and sealingly engaging the inner wall surface of said barrel member, a reservoir for liquid material rigidly carried within said plunger and `movable therewith, said reservoir being reduced in outer diameter below its topl portion, defining a substantially enclosed air space between its outer wall surface and the inner wall surface of said plunger, means defining an annular vrestriction between the bottom ofy the reservoir and the bottom wall of the plunger, a nozzle orifice formed in the wall of the plunger and communicating with said air space, an orifice formed in the reservoir wall in alignment with said nozzle orifice, and

a sleeve member closely fitting inside the reservoir and overlying the reservoir orifice, the outer surface of the sleeve member being roughned to define capillary passages between the sleeve member and the inner wall surface of the reservoir,

said plunger being formed with an air admission orifice in its end portion communicating with said air space.

2. An atomizer comprising a barrel member, ahollow plunger slidably contained within and sealingly engaging the inner wall surface of said barrel member, spring means biasing said plunger to an extended position with respect to said barrel member, a reservoir for liquid material rig-4 idly carried within said plunger and movable therewith, said reservoir being reduced in diameter below its top portion, defining an air space between its outer wall surface and the inner wall surface of said plunger, means defining an annular restriction between the bottom of the reservoir and the bottom Wall of the plunger, a nozzle orifice formed in the wall of the plunger and communicating with said air space, an orifice formed in the reservoir Wall in alignment with said noz.- zle orifice, a sleeve member closely fitting inside the reservoir and overlying the reservoir orifice, the outer surface of the sleeve member being roughened `to define capillary passages between -the sleevemember and the inner wall surface of the reservoir, said plunger being formed with an air admission orifice in its end portion communi- ,eating with said air space, and an end cap carried by said barrel member, said end cap having an air admission orifice formed therein.

3. An atomizer comprising a barrel member, a hollow plunger slidably contained within and sealingly engaging the inner wall surface of said barrel member, spring means biasing said plungver te an extended position with respect to said barrel member, cooperating stop means carried by said plunger and barrel member limiting the extension of the plunger, a reservoir for liquid material rigidly carried within the plunger and movable therewith, said reservoir being reduced in outer diameter below its top portion, defining an air space between its outer wall surface and the inner wall surface of said plunger, means deiining an annular restriction between the bottom of the reservoir and the bottom wall of the plunger, a nozzle orifice formed in the Wall of the plunger and communicating. with said air space, an orifice formed in the reservoir wall in alignment with said nozzle orifice, a. sleeve member closely itting inside the reservoir and overlying the reservoir orice, the outer surface of the sleeve member being roughened to define capillary passages between the sleeve member and the inner wall surface of the reservoir, said plunger being formed with an air admission orifice in its end portion communicating with said air space, and an end cap carried by saidbarrel member, said end cap having an air admission oriiice formed therein.

4. An atomizer comprising a barrel member, a hollow plunger slidably contained within and sealingly engaging the inner wall surface of said barrel member, spring means biasing said plunger to an extended position with respect to said barrel member, cooperating stop means carried Vby said plunger and barrel member limiting the er1--v tension of said plunger, a reservoir for liquid material rigidly carried within said plunger .and movable therewith, said reservoir being reduced in outer diameter below its top portion, delining an air space between its outer wall surface and the inner wall surface of said plunger, means dening an annular restriction between the bottom of the reservoir and the bottom wall of the plunger, a nozzle member carried in the side Wall of the plunger and communicating with said air space, means carried by the barrel member cooperating at times with said nozzle member to lock the plunger in retracted position within the barrel member, an orice formed in the reservoir wall in alignment with said nozzle member, a sleeve member closely fitting inside the reservoir and overlying said orice, the outer surface of said sleeve member being roughened to define capillary passages between the sleeve member and the inner wall surface of the reservoir, said plunger being formed with an air admission orifice in its end portion communicating with said air space, and an end cap carried by said barrel member, said end cap having an air admission oriflce formed therein.

5. An atomizer comprising a barrel member, a hollow plunger slidably contained within and sealingly engaging the inner wall surface of said barrel member, an end cap carried by said barrel member, said end cap having an air opening formed therein, a coil spring bearing between said end cap and said plunger, whereby said plunger is biased toward an extended position with respect to said barrel member, cooperating stop means carried by said plunger and barrel mem ber limiting the extension of the plunger, a reservoir for liquid material rigidly carried Within said plunger and movable therewith, said reservoir beingfreduced in outer diameter between its top portion and its bottom to define an air space between its outer wall surface and the innerwall surface of the plunger, the bottom periphery of the reservoir being bevelled and the inner bottom surface of the plunger being conically formed adjacent the botto-m periphery of the reservoir to define an annular restriction lwith respect to the bottom edge of the reservoir, nozzle means in the side Wall of the plunger communicating with the upper portion of said air space, the reservoir wall being formed with an orifice aligned with said nozzle means, and a sleeve mern- 1.

ber closely fitting inside the reservoir and overlying said oriiice, the outer surface of the sleeve member being roughened to define capillary passages between the sleeve member and the inner wall surface of the reservoir, said plunger having an air admission orifice formed in itsv end wall communicating with the portion of said air space below said annular restriction.

6. An atomizer comprising a barrel member, a hollouT plunger slidably contained within and sealingly engaging the inner wall surface of said barrel member, a reservoir for liquid material rigidly carried within said plunger and movable therewith, said reservoir being bevelled at its bottom periphery and the inner bottom surface of the plungerbeing conically formed adjacent the bottom edge `of the reservoir to deiine an annular restriction, the reservoir being reduced in outer diameter abo-ve said annular restriction to define an air space, nozzle means in the side wall of the plunger communicating with said air space, the reservoir wall being formed with an orice in alignment with said nozzle means, the endwall of the plunger being formed with an air admission oriiice communicating with the space below said annular restriction, and a sleeve member closely iitting inside the reservoir and overlying the orice in the reservoir wall, the outer surface of the sleeve member being roughened to define capillary passages between the sleeve member and the inner wall surface of the reservoir.

ERNEST P. SMITH.

REFERENCES CITED Country Date France Aug. 27, 1928 Number Number 

